For 20 years, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) host Robert Osborne has introduced thousands of films and interviewed hundreds of stars, including several longer in-depth interviews with Hollywood legends in his continuing series of specials, Private Screenings. On Monday, TCM is going to turn the tables on Osborne as the interviewer becomes the interviewee in a brand new special Private Screenings: Robert Osborne. He will be interviewed for this special by his friend and former co-host of The Essentials… Alec Baldwin (below with Osborne).

Robert Osborne has served as TCM’s host since the network’s launch on April 14th, 1994. He’s a man whose fascinating stories, historical knowledge, and a sheer love of the subject have made his name synonymous with classic film. But the story of Osborne’s own life is one that could be a motion picture itself. It’s a story of a small town boy from Colfax, Washington, who at a young age, fell in love with film, moved to Hollywood to give acting a try. He then became a writer, columnist, critic, and the official biographer of Oscar, thanks to a series of books he’s written on the Academy Awards. Osborne created an industry for himself as the keeper of the flame for classic film at a time when nostalgia for Hollywood didn’t even exist. Then along came Turner Classic Movies with a custom-made job for his passion.

As TCM expanded, so have his duties. In addition to his hosting gig, he co-hosts The Essentialsweekly showcase with Drew Barrymore. And, he serves as the official host of the TCM Classic Film Festival held each Spring, and the TCM Classic Cruise in December. In recognition of his contributions to classic film, Osborne received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006, and a special award from the National Board of Review in 2008.

Baldwin and Osborne’s conversation begins with his early days tracking the movies playing in New York, and compiling the background information into a hefty notebook he affectionately calls Blackie. Viewers will not only get to see Blackie on camera for the first time, but also enjoy clips from Osborne’s early days as an actor in commercials, as well as in the daytime drama The Young Marrieds, and the pilot for The Beverly Hillbillies. In addition, Osborne is featured in several clips from The Dinah Shore Show, which frequently had him on to converse about the Oscars, and The Morning Programon CBS, for which he did movie and theater reviews.

The special is packed with great stories from Osborne’s life and career, which has included influential encounters with several notable figures: Jane Darwell, who suggested he move to Hollywood after working with him in a regional theater production; Lucille Ball, who put him under contract at Desilu, and later encouraged him to go into journalism; Natalie Wood, who helped him work out the questions for his first interview; Olivia de Havilland, who asked him to escort her to the American Film Institute’s tribute to Bette Davis, and whom he continues to talk nearly every Sunday; and Dorothy Lamour, who introduced Osborne to the executives who eventually launched Turner Classic Movies. He also chats about the Private Screenings interviews he has conducted since the franchise launched in September 1995, including stars, such as Betty Hutton,Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, and Mickey Rooney.

One of the memorable aspects of Private Screenings: Robert Osborneis a collection of personal, heartfelt testimonies from the many actors and other film personalities who have known and worked with him. Tributes are given by Robert Wagner, Chita Rivera, Jane Powell, Joel Grey, Diane Baker, Arlene Dahl, Eva Marie Saint, Barbara Rush, Liza Minnelli, Mariette Hartley, and Tina & Nancy Sinatra.

It’s slated to premiere on Monday, January, 6th, at 8p (ET/PT), followed by a night of four films hand-picked by Osborne.

Until next time> “never forget”

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This entry was posted on Sunday, January 5th, 2014 at 2:21 pm and is filed under Blog by Manny Pacheco.
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